Geography

Official name: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also referred to as Congo (Kinshasa) to be distinguished from neighboring Congo (Brazzaville); former Belgium Congo, Zaire.

Area: 2.34 million sq. km. (905,354 sq. mi.), slightly less than one-fourth the size of the United States.

Border countries: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia.

Terrain: With a vast low-lying central basin, the terrain varies from tropical rainforests to mountainous terraces, plateaus, savannas, dense grasslands, and mountains.

Climate: Tropical; hot and humid in the equatorial river basin (26C av. temp.); cooler and drier in the southern highlands; cooler and wetter in the eastern highlands (18C av. temp); north of the equator, wet season April to October, dry season December to February; south of equator, wet season November to March, dry season April to October. Annual rainfall 100cm-220cm.

Natural resources: Cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydro power potential.

Environment-current issues: Poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; about a million refugees living from 1994 to 1996 in the eastern part of the country were responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching.

People

Population: 54.4 million

Age structure: 0-14 years: 48%, 15-64 years: 49%, 65+ years: 3%

Population growth rate: 2.34%

Birth rate (annual per 1,000): 47.7

Death rate (annual per 1,000): 16.6

Infant mortality rate: 105.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: 47.03 years (male: 45.16, female: 48.95)

Total fertility rate: 6.58 children born/woman

Ethnic groups: Over 200 African groups of which the majority (80%) are Bantu; the four largest tribes-Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamatic) make up about 45% of the population.

Languages: French, Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo, Tshiluba (official languages) and about 250 local languages and dialects

Religions: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and traditional beliefs 10%

Government

Government type: Republic with strong presidential system

Capital: Kinshasa (pop. about 4.5 million)

Administrative divisions: 10 regions (Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Haut-Congo, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Shaba, Sud-Kivu) and 1 city (Kinshasa )

Independence: June 30, 1960 (from Belgium)

Constitution: May 28, 1997

Chief of state, also head of government: President Joseph Kabila and four vice presidents.

Political parties: Under the new peace initiatives multiparty presence is operating

(Statistics: CIA World Fact Book, 1997)

Economy

High inflation rates, chronic large government debts and plunging mineral production over the last 10 years have made the DRC one of the countries with the lowest per capita income in the world. During the civil war of 1996-97 most families and individuals have survived on subsistence farming and petty trade. Besides the introduction in June 1998 of the Congolese franc, advocated financial measures have not been put in place. Since the latest war broke out in August 1998, Kabila's government has not been able to meet financial obligations to the IMF, while the war caused sharp devaluation of the Congolese franc and steep increase in prices.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $16.5 billion

GDP per capita: $400

GDP by sector: agriculture 59%; industry 15%; services:26%

Monetary unit: Congolese franc. The New Zaire monetary unit in the last years of the Mobutu era is gradually being taken out of circulation.

Inflation rate: 542% (1995).

Economic activities: Agriculture, forestry, fisheries, livestock, mining and petroleum, industry, electric power.

Foreign Trade: Agriculture products: coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava, palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits, wood products. Industries: mining, mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, diamonds.

External Debt: $13.8 billion.

(Statistics: CIA World Fact Book 1997 )

Energy

The Inga hydroelectric power plant at the mouth of the Congo River consists of two hydroelectric stations. The 1,725-km. high-voltage power line stretches over almost the entire width of the DRC from Inga in the west of the country to Kolwezi in the heart of Shaba's mining region. However, small towns and villages situated directly along the power line have no access to electricity supplies. A few smaller hydroelectric power plants have been installed in other provinces. There are plans to sell power to several other African countries.

Transportation and Communication

Poor infrastructure for transport and communications is a major obstacle to the DRC's economic development. The country's main transport circuit connects the port of Matadi to Shaba. Through an elaborate route, goods are transported by train from Matadi to Kinshasa, then on vessels over the river from Kinshasa to Ilebo, where the freight is again transferred to Congo's largest railway to Lubumbashi. Use of this route has declined due to poor maintenance, fuel shortages and increased regional insecurity. There are international railway connections with Tanzanian, Angolan, Zambian, Zimbabwean, Mozambican and South African systems. In May 1997 the railway network and its assets were nationalized. River traffic plays an essential role in the DRC's transportation system, but the vessels for passenger and freight services are mainly old and poorly maintained. The voyages can take several weeks before reaching the final destination. The total length of inland waterways is 13,700km. The principal seaports are Matadi, Boma and Banana on the Lower Congo. The road network is fully inadequate: only 2,500 km. of the 68,000 km. main roads are surfaced. At the DRC's airports safety conditions are poor and accidents are common. State-operated telecommunications facilities are among the worst in Africa and international lines are sketchy and unreliable. Private satellite communications network companies provide services for government officials, businessmen and others who can afford the costs.

Education

Primary education starts at 6 years of age, lasts for six years, and is officially compulsory. Secondary education, begins at 12 years of age, lasts up to six years, and is not compulsory. The four universities in the DRC are at Kinshasa, Kinshasa/Limete, Kisangani and Lumbumbashi. In the budget for 1995, education received less than 1% of the central government expenditure.

Primary school enrollment: 68% (boys 78%,girls 58%), students total 5,000,000; 56% of primary school-aged children reach fourth grade (1993).

Secondary school enrollment: 24% (boys 33%, girls 15%), a total of 1,350,000 students (1993).

Higher education: 61,422 students (1988).

Literacy: Age 15 and over can read and write in French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba; total population: 77.3%, Male: 86.6%, Female: 67.7% (1995).

(Statistics: UNESCO Statistical Yearbook )

Health

Infectious and parasitic diseases such as malaria, sleeping sickness, river blindness and schistosomiasis are a major health threat. Measles, diarrheal diseases, tetanus, diphteria, pertussis, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, and leprosy are also prevalent. A majority of the population is infected with intestinal worms. AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are spreading rapidly. The state-run health care system is in virtual collapse while private sources of health care reach just 50% of the population. Only 14% of the population has access to safe water. Especially among children, malnutrition is widespread.